Contact hearing system with wearable communication apparatus

ABSTRACT

Contact hearing devices for use with a wearable communication apparatus are disclosed to provide the user with an open ear canal to hear ambient sound and sound from an audio signal. The disclosed devices and systems have an advantage of providing sound to user from the audio signal, in many embodiments without creating sound that can be perceived by others. The contact hearing device can also be used to amplify ambient sound to provide a hearing assistance to users with diminished hearing. The wearable information apparatus can be configured to couple wirelessly to the contact transducer assembly, such that the wearable information apparatus can be removed while the contact transducer assembly remains placed on the user.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/627,336, filed Feb. 20, 2015, which claims the benefit under 35U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/943,040 and U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/943,069, both filed Feb. 21, 2014, theentire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to communication and varioushearing systems, devices, and methods. Hearing is an important sense forpeople and allows them to listen to and understand others. Althoughsignificant progress has been made in providing subjects who havehearing deficiency with improved hearing aids, a wide adoption of thehearing aids among the population is still not achieved. One of thereasons is that there is still a stigma attached in wearing hearingaids, and in at least some instances users of prior hearing aids may beperceived as handicapped. This perception can be related, for example,among other things to their appearance. The hearing devices in general(that are used by users with normal hearing and with the hearingdeficiency, and that are not limited to those that have hearing aidscapabilities) also has a room for improvement.

Recent improvements in computer related technology have created anopportunity for people to interact, provide and have access to data. TheInternet, cloud computing, smart phones and wireless technology havecreated an environment where users can share and access data in manyways.

Wearable computer interface devices provide a human informationinterface that allows users to interact and provide data to each other.However, the prior wearable computer interface devices can be less thanideal in at least some respects. For example, such devices can besomewhat larger than would be ideal. Such devices can provide a wearabledisplay and audio to the user. However, the display can be somewhatlarger than would be ideal, and the sound quality can be somewhat lessthan would be ideal. Earbuds, for example, can provide high soundquality for an input audio signal, however, such devices can occlude theear canal in at least some instances and provide a less than ideal userinterface where the user would both like to listen to the audio signaland listen to people with whom the user is interacting. Also, with anopen ear canal, at least some of the prior hearing devices can transmitsound in a manner that is sufficiently loud for a person other than theuser to perceive the sound, which can diminish the privacy of the userin at least some instances.

In light of the above, there is a need for improved listening andcomputer interface devices, especially those that could be used incombination with the hearing devices and systems. There is also a needfor improving performance of such devices.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide improved methods andapparatus (systems) to interface people, including those who have ahearing deficiency, with information related devices, such as wearableinformation or wearable communication devices, including wearabledisplays. The systems and methods of the present disclosure providebenefits for users, both with hearing deficiency and normal hearing.Those benefits include, but are not limited to the improved quality ofthe sound, high fidelity, reduced or eliminated effects of occlusion (atunnel-like hearing sensation) due to an open and/or at least widelyvented ear canal, including the cosmetic benefit for hearing impaired tohide the appearance of the hearing device and/or to be perceived asmodern computer users rather than handicapped. Various embodiments ofthe wearable communication apparatus of the present disclosure providean open ear canal for the user to listen to ambient sound or allow theuser to listen to an audio signal from a remote source, in a manner thatmaintains the privacy of the user. In many embodiments, a wearableinformation apparatus may comprise a wearable computer display combinedwith a contact hearing device to provide the user with an open ear canalto hear ambient sound and sound from an audio signal. The contacthearing device has the advantage of providing sound to user from theaudio signal, in many embodiments without creating sound that can beperceived by others. Also, the contact hearing device can be used toamplify ambient sound to provide a hearing assistance to users withdiminished hearing. The contact hearing device may comprise a contacttransducer assembly configured for placement at a location of the user,for example, on a lateral side of the eardrum or tympanic membrane ofthe user, or in the middle ear of the user. The wearable informationapparatus can be configured to couple wirelessly to the contacttransducer assembly, such that the wearable information apparatus can beremoved and the contact transducer assembly remains placed on the user.

According to some embodiments, a wearable communication apparatus isprovided. The wearable communication apparatus comprising a supportstructure configured to be wearable by a user and a contact transducerassembly configured to produce vibrations of the tissue of the user. Theapparatus further comprises a circuitry at least partially positioned onthe support structure and configured to drive the contact transducerassembly with an audio signal. The contact transducer assembly may bedriven by an output transducer coupled to the circuitry. In someembodiments the contact transducer assembly may reside on a lateralsurface of the eardrum, and in some embodiments it may be positioned ina middle ear of the user. The output transducer coupled to the circuitrymay comprise a coil, a light source, RF source or ultrasound source. Thewearable communication apparatus is shaped and configured to provide anopen ear canal or at least widely vented ear canal. The contacttransducer assembly contacts an eardrum of the user to drive the eardrumwith the audio signal and the open ear canal allows the eardrum tovibrate in response to the audio signal to provide both the ambientsound and the audio signal to the user. The contact transducer assemblymay be configured to produce wide bandwidth vibrations of the eardrum.In various embodiments, the bandwidth may comprise a low frequenciesbelow 200 Hz and high frequencies above 6 kHz, in further embodimentsthe bandwidth may comprise a low frequencies below 500 Hz and highfrequencies above 5 kHz.

According to some embodiments, a contact hearing device coupled to awearable information or wearable communication apparatus is provided.The contact hearing device can be coupled to the wearable informationapparatus in one or more of many ways. In many embodiments, the wearableinformation apparatus comprises communication circuitry, such aswireless communication circuitry, to drive the contact hearing device.The wireless communication circuitry may comprise in various embodimentsa variety of sources, for example, an RF source, an ultrasound source, amagnetic field generator to transmit a signal electromagnetically to thecontact hearing device, or a light source to transmit the signaloptically to the contact hearing device, just to name a few. Forexample, in some embodiments with the electromagnetic source, thecontact hearing device may be responsive to variations in the generatedmagnetic field to transmit the audio signal. While various examples ofthe embodiments are described in reference to the magnetic source or thelight source, such descriptions are provided by way of the example onlyand people skilled in the art would appreciate that other energy sourcesare within the scope of the present disclosure, and various embodimentsand implementations may be adjusted to accommodate such alternativeenergy sources. In many embodiments, the wireless communicationcircuitry is configured to transmit power and signal to the contacttransducer assembly. The wireless communication circuitry can beintegrated with the information apparatus (e.g. wearable communicationapparatus or wearable information apparatus), or may comprise aremovable module configured to provide wireless coupling between thewearable information apparatus and the contact hearing device. Theremovable module may be placed, for example, in the ear canal and may beelectrically connected to the wearable information apparatus. It mayalternatively be wirelessly connected to the wearable informationapparatus using radio frequencies (RF). In many embodiments theremovable module may comprise an electrical input to receive anelectrical audio signal and, for example, an optical output to transmitsound to the contact hearing device with light.

According to some embodiments, the wearable communication apparatus maycomprise at least 2 elongate elements sized to extend from the supportstructure (e.g., from the extensions on each side of the supportstructure) to each of the ear canals of the user, each comprising one ormore of an electrical conductor to transmit the audio signal or opticalfiber(s) to transmit optical signal. One or both of the elongateelements may be supported by the support structure and may be removablyconnected to the support structure.

The contact hearing device comprises a transducer that receives theaudio signal and couples the transducer to the user with contact of atransducer structure to the tissue. The contact hearing device maycomprise one or more of many configurations and may comprise animplantable hearing device, or a hearing device placed on an eardrum ofthe user, and combinations thereof, for example. The transducer maycomprise one or more of many transducers such as a magnet, a coil, abalanced armature, a piezo electric transducer, a photo-strictivematerial, and combinations thereof. The transducer structure contactingthe tissue may comprise one or more of a support to contact tissuecoupled to the transducer, such as an EarLens® platform available fromthe assignee of the present application, a support structure placed onthe eardrum, a bone contact structure to couple the transducer to bone,a bone anchor structure to anchor the transducer contact structure tobone, a reed of a balanced armature transducer, an extension from a reedof a balanced armature transducer, a structure of a piezo electrictransducer, or a structure of a photo-strictive material, andcombinations thereof.

In those embodiments where the optical signal is used, the opticalsignal may comprise one or more of many optical signals, and maycomprise, for example, a pulse modulated signal such as a one or more ofa pulse width modulated signal or a pulse density modulated signal.

A module for use with the systems and apparatus according to the presentdisclosure can be configured in one or more of many ways, and maycomprise a circuitry to convert an input audio signal into, for example,electromagnetic signal, or an optical signal, such as a pulse modulatedoptical signal. The input audio signal may comprise an analog inputaudio signal, and the circuitry can be configured to drive, for examplein some embodiments, a light source to provide a pulse modulated opticalsignal to the contact hearing device. The circuitry of the module ormodule circuitry can be configured such that the analog audio signalprovides both power and signal to the circuitry. The module circuitrymay comprise one or more light sources such as light emitting diodes orlaser diodes, or in other embodiments, for example, magnetic fieldgenerators, such as magnetic coil. The energy from the module canprovide both power and signal to the contact hearing device.

According to another aspect, various methods are provided forimplementing, coupling and/or using a contact hearing system with awearable communication apparatus as described in the present disclosure.For example, according to some embodiments, the method may comprise:providing a support structure configured to be wearable by a user, thesupport structure configured to support a circuitry at least partiallypositioned on the support structure; and driving a contact transducerassembly configured to produce vibrations of a tissue of a user with anaudio signal from an output transducer coupled to the circuitry.

Other features and advantages of the devices and methodology of thepresent disclosure will become apparent from the following detaileddescription of one or more implementations when read in view of theaccompanying figures. Neither this summary nor the following detaileddescription purports to define the invention. The invention is definedby the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be obtained by reference to the following detaileddescription that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which theprinciples of the disclosure are utilized, and the accompanying drawingsof which:

FIG. 1A shows an example of a wearable communication apparatus that maybe used with various contact hearing devices of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 1B and 1C show examples of wearable communication apparatus, inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 2A shows an example of an output transducer of the contact hearingdevice coupled to an ear of a user;

FIG. 2B shows an example of a wearable information apparatus with acontact hearing device coupled to an ear of a user;

FIGS. 3A and 3B show examples of an adapter module (module), inaccordance with various embodiments; and

FIG. 4 shows an example of an output transducer assembly configured forbone conduction, in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, some examplesof embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. In this regard,directional terminology, such as “right”, “left”, “upwards”,“downwards”, “vertical”, “horizontal” etc., are used with reference tothe orientation of the figure(s) being described. Because components orembodiments of the present disclosure can be positioned or operated in anumber of different orientations, the directional terminology is usedfor purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. The terms“coupled,” or “attached,” or “mounted” as used herein, may mean directlyor indirectly coupled, attached, or mounted through one or moreintervening components. It should be noted that the drawings are not toscale and are intended only as an aid in conjunction with theexplanations in the following detailed description. In the drawings,identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The sizesand relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarilydrawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and anglesare not drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarilyenlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, theparticular shapes and configurations of the elements as drawn, are notintended to convey any information regarding the actual shape orconfiguration of the particular elements, and have been solely selectedfor ease of recognition in the drawings.

Although the detailed description contains many specifics, these shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure but merely asillustrating different examples and aspects of the present disclosure.It should be appreciated that the scope of the disclosure includes otherembodiments not discussed in detail above, and structural or logicalchanges may be made to various embodiments without departing from thescope of the present disclosure. Various other modifications, changesand variations which will be apparent to those skilled in the art may bemade in the arrangement, operation and details of the method andapparatus of the present disclosure provided herein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of such disclosure.

The embodiments and/or features of the embodiments disclosed herein canbe combined in one or more of many ways to provide an improvedcommunication apparatus of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1A shows an example of a communication apparatus, such as awearable information apparatus 100, in accordance with some of theembodiments. While FIG. 1A shows a wearable apparatus in the form of eyeglasses, other types of wearable communication devices may be used withthe contact hearing devices of the present disclosure. The apparatusshown in FIG. 1A comprises a support structure 110 to support thecomponents of the apparatus. The support structure 110 may comprise anose engaging structure 112 and one or more ear engaging structures 114.One or more extensions 116 may extend between the nose engagingstructures and the one or more ear engaging structures. The supportstructure may be shaped to extend all around a back of the user's head,if desired, or it may have a variety of shapes and configurations(including straight, curved, angled and combinations of the above).

The apparatus may comprise one or more displays 118 locatable in frontof one or both eyes of a user. The user has a first side and a secondside, such as left side and a right side. The apparatus comprises acorresponding first side and a second side, to place components of theapparatus at intended locations on the first and second sides of theuser, respectively. The one or more displays 118 may comprise a firstdisplay positioned on the support structure 110 so as to be locatable infront of a first eye of the user and a second display positioned on thesupport structure so as to be locatable in front of a second eye of theuser. While in some embodiments, the wearable apparatus may be in a formof a simple prescription or non-prescription glasses or sunglasseswithout any “display” capabilities, in some embodiments the display 118may comprise an optically transmissive material 120, such as a lens orglass, and the display may comprise coatings to selectively transmit theimage shown to the user. The display 118 may be made of any suitablematerial and it may be made transparent for user's convenience. In thoseembodiments where the image is shown on the display 118, it may be superimposed with the image the user sees through the optically transmissivematerial.

The support structure may comprise one or more components of an eyeglassframe, for example. The optically transmissive material may compriselenses of comprising a prescription or other optical correctionbeneficial to the user, for example.

Although not shown in FIG. 1A, the wearable information apparatus maycomprise a power supply such as a battery, and a communicationcircuitry, such as wireless communication circuitry, to couple, forexample, a separate or remote information/communication apparatus suchas a smart phone or gateway, a tablet computing device, or a laptopcomputer, for example. The wireless communication circuitry can transmitinformation between the wearable information apparatus and one of theremote or separate information/communication devices, such as the smartphone, for example. The smart phone may comprise one or more of manyknown smart phones such as an iPhone™, or an Android™ phone such as aphone commercially available from Samsung, for example. The connectionbetween the phone and the wearable apparatus can be at least partiallywired, for example, or it can be wireless, for example, using cellulartechnology, Bluetooth® technology, WiFi or any other appropriatetechnology. The remote device may also be accessed, for example, throughthe Internet. Although the connection with the wearable displayapparatus can be to a smart phone, the wearable apparatus can beconnected to a computer, such as a notebook computer or a back endserver, for example.

The wearable information apparatus comprises at least one microphone 122to detect ambient sound. The at least one microphone can be located onthe support structure in one or more of many locations. While FIG. 1Ashows the microphone 122 located near the corner of the supportstructure on the first side, it may be located at any convenientlocation on the support structure, including at the bottom of thesupport structure, on the nose engaging structure 112, or on both thefirst and the second sides of the support frame. In some embodiments,the microphone 122 may be located near or inside the ear canal of theuser, for example, as described in various embodiments below. In manyembodiments, the at least one microphone comprises a directionalmicrophone oriented to where the user is looking.

Another example of a wearable communication apparatus is shown in FIG.1B. According to the embodiments of the example of FIG. 1B, the wearablecommunication apparatus 100 may comprise an audio transmitter 102, whichmay be in the form of a magnetic coil, and it may be coupled to thesupport structure or support frame 110. When worn, the magnetic coil,for example, may wrap around the back of the user's head. The audiotransmitter may be operative to transmit audio signals to first andsecond output transducers 126. The audio transmitter may generate amagnetic field. The first and second output transducers 126 may comprisehigh-energy permanent magnets and/or may be responsive to variations inthe generated magnetic field to transmit the audio. The wearableinformation apparatus of FIG. 1B also shows a microphone 122 and acircuitry 124 which is described in more detail below.

FIG. 1C shows yet another example of a wearable communication apparatus,in accordance with further embodiments. As shown in FIG. 1C, thewearable communication apparatus may have many of the same components asthe wearable communication apparatus of FIG. 1B. While the magnetic coilor audio transmitter of the wearable communication apparatus of FIG. 1Bmay comprise a single magnetic coil wrapped around the head of the useror at least the back of the head of the user, the wearable communicationapparatus of FIG. 1C may comprise a first magnetic coil or audiotransmitter 102 for the first side of the apparatus and second magneticcoil or audio transmitter 102 for the second side of the apparatus. Thefirst magnetic coil or audio transmitter 102 may wirelessly couple tothe first output transducer 126 to transmit the first sound to the user,for example, a right audio component. The second magnetic coil or audiotransmitter 102 may wirelessly couple to the second output transducer126 to transmit a second sound to the user, for example, a left audiocomponent. Together, the first and second magnetic coils or audiotransmitters 102 may provide high-quality stereo sound to the user.

FIG. 2A shows an example of an output transducer 26 coupled to an ear ofa user that can be used with the wearable communication apparatus ofvarious embodiments. The ear comprises an outer ear 30, a middle ear 32,and an inner ear 34. The outer ear 30 comprises primarily of the pinna16 and the ear canal 14. The middle ear is bounded by the tympanicmembrane (ear drum) 10 on one side, and contains a series of three tinyinterconnected bones: the malleus (hammer) 18, the incus (anvil) 20 andthe stapes (stirrup) 22. Collectively, these three bones are known asthe ossicles or the ossicular chain. The malleus is attached to thetympanic membrane 10 while the stapes, the last bone in the ossicularchain, is coupled to the cochlea 24 of the inner ear.

FIG. 2A depicts an embodiment wherein a transducer 26 resides on theexterior or lateral surface of the tympanic membrane 10, which is thesurface that faces the ear canal 14. By residing on the surface is meantthat the transducer 26 is coupled or placed in contact (directly orthrough some support structure) with an exterior surface of the tympanicmembrane. The transducer 26 may comprise one or more of manytransducers, including without limitations, a magnet and a coil, abalanced armature transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, aphotostrictive transducer, and combinations thereof. For example, in theimplementations according to the example of FIG. 1B, the transducer 26may comprise a high-energy permanent magnet.

According to one example of the methodology for positioning thetransducer 26 to reside on the tympanic membrane or eardrum 10, one mayemploy a contact transducer assembly that includes the transducer 26 anda support means 28. The support means 28 may be attached to (directly orindirectly), or may float on, a portion of the tympanic membrane 10, forexample, at the surface that is the opposite to a surface of the supportmeans 28 that couples to the transducer 26. The support means 28 may bea biocompatible structure with a surface area sufficient to support thetransducer 26, and may be vibrationally coupled to the tympanic membrane10, for example, on a lateral (ear canal) side. The surface of thesupport means 28 that is attached to the tympanic membrane maysubstantially conform to the shape of the corresponding surface of thetympanic membrane, particularly the umbo area of the tympanic membrane.A surface wetting agent, such as mineral oil, may be used to enhance theability of the support means 28 to form a weak but sufficient attachmentto the tympanic membrane through surface adhesion.

FIG. 2B shows an example of a wearable information apparatus, such asone shown in FIG. 1A, coupled to an ear of a user and implementing alight source as the energy source. The apparatus comprises a circuitry224 which may be supported with the extension 216 of the supportstructure 210, for example, in a way similar to how the circuitry 124 issupported with the extension 116 of the support structure 110 shown inFIG. 1B. In many embodiments, depending on particular implementation,the circuitry may comprise circuitry to convert an audio signal, forexample, into a varying magnetic field, or into an optical signal,including a pulse modulated optical signal, to transmit power and signalto the user. The audio signal may comprise an audio signal from anexternal source, such as wireless signal from a cellular phoneconnection, or music signal from a stored music library such as iTunes,for example. The audio signal may comprise an audio signal from amicrophone supported with the support structure, for example, as shownin FIGS. 1A-1C. Examples of circuitry to transmit power and signal, forexample, with an optical signal, suitable for combination in accordancewith the present disclosure are described in the following U.S. Pat.Nos. 8,396,239 and 8,715,152; the full disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference. The circuitry 224, which may besupported with the support structure 210, may comprise a power sourcesuch as a battery (or multiple batteries of various forms, includingrechargeable batteries) and wireless communication circuitry to receivethe audio signal, for example. The wearable communication device mayinclude a port to connect to the power source, for example, to rechargeone or more batteries, without removing them. In some embodiments,optionally, as shown by the dotted line in the top portion of FIG. 2B,the circuitry 224 may comprise a light source to drive the contacttransducer assembly. In such implementation, one or more optical fibersmay extend from the light source 240 and circuitry 224 into an ear canalof the user. In other implementations (as described below and shown inreference to the lower portion of FIG. 2B), the light source may belocated in the ear canal.

The contact transducer assembly can be located in one or more of manylocations to transmit sound to the user with direct contact of thetransducer assembly to the tissue, such as the eardrum, to vibrate it.In many embodiments, the contact transducer assembly contacts an eardrum(tympanic membrane) of the user. In the example shown in FIG. 2B, thecontact transducer assembly 226 may comprise one or more photodetectors250 to receive light and an electromechanical transducer to drive thetympanic membrane with energy from the photodetectors. Examples ofvarious contact transducer assemblies suitable for use with the wearablecommunication apparatus of the present disclosure are described in thefollowing U.S. patents and published applications: U.S. Pat. Nos.7,289,639; 8,858,419; 7,867,160; and 2014/0056453, the full disclosuresof which are incorporated herein by reference.

The contact hearing devices with the contact transducer assemblyaccording to the present disclosure when used in conjunction with thewearable communication apparatus provide substantial advantages andbenefits to both hearing impaired users and users with the normalhearing. The novel apparatus, devices and systems as disclosed hereinallow the user enjoying the benefits of the wearable communicationdevice while at the same time achieving both the improved quality of thesound with the wide bandwidth and eliminating occlusion which is presentwith the use of the existing ear buds of the wearable informationdevices. The novel apparatus, devices and systems of the presentdisclosure provide an open and/or at least widely vented ear canal,which allows the user to hear ambient sound, including high and lowfrequencies localization cues. For example, a configuration of the inputtransducer assembly and transmitter assembly as described in variousembodiments provides an open ear canal (e.g., magnet and coilconfigurations of FIGS. 1B and 1C, or optical configuration of FIG. 2B).The sound processor for use with the embodiments of the presentdisclosure may have a bandwidth that is larger than 4 kHz, or largerthan 6 kHz. The contact hearing devices with wearable communicationapparatus of the present disclosure allow users to perceive sound at lowand high frequencies, for example, below 500 Hz and further below 200Hz, and, for example, above 5 kHz and further above 6 kHz.

The at least one microphone 122 can be placed in one or more of manylocations on the support structure, as shown by example in FIGS. 1A-1C.In many embodiments, the microphone 122 comprises a directionalmicrophone oriented toward the field of view of the “glasses” of thewearable display or wearable communication apparatus. The at least onemicrophone 122 may comprise a plurality of microphones, for example afirst microphone 122 on a first side and a second microphone 122 on asecond side of FIGS. 1A-1C. For users having a diminished hearing, theat least one microphone can be located near an opening of the ear canalto provide spatial localization cues to the user. Alternatively, the atleast one microphone 122 may comprise a microphone located away from theear canal opening to inhibit feedback. In many embodiments, the at leastone microphone comprises a first microphone near the ear canal openingand a second microphone away from the ear canal opening, as described inU.S. Pat. No. 8,401,212, the entire disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

In many embodiments an elongate element 230 shown in FIG. 2B may extendfrom the circuitry 224 to the ear canal opening 234 to transmit theaudio signal to the contact transducer assembly 226. The elongateelement 230 may comprise one or more of an electrical conductor totransmit an electrical signal or an optical waveguide such as an opticalfiber to transmit an optical signal to the contact transducer assembly.The elongate element 230 comprising the electrical conductor can extend,for example, to a light source 240 that may be placed in the ear canal234 as shown at the bottom portion of FIG. 2B. Alternatively, if thelight source is supported with the support structure or frame 210 of thewearable information apparatus, for example, as part of the circuitry224, the elongate element 230 comprising the optical fiber(s) may extendfrom a first end adjacent a light source supported with the supportstructure to the ear canal to transmit light energy to the contacttransducer assembly.

The elongate element 230 can be connected to the extension 216 of thesupport structure 210 such that the elongate element can be removed withthe support structure when the wearable communication apparatus isremoved and the contact transducer assembly may remain in contact withthe user. Examples of the elongate elements suitable for combination inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure are described inU.S. Pat. No. 8,295,523, the entire disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference. As described in the U.S. Pat. No. 8,295,523, theelongate support 230 may be configured to flex and/or bend toaccommodate user motion and individual user characteristics, whileproviding support, for example, to an energy delivery transducer and/ora microphone (in those embodiments where at least one microphone ispositioned inside the ear canal).

FIGS. 3A and 3B show examples of a module or an adapter module, inaccordance with various embodiments. In the example of FIG. 3A, theadapter module comprises an analog input to receive an analog inputsignal, such as an analog signal capable of driving an ear bud. Themodule comprises power circuitry coupled to the analog input. The powercircuitry may comprise circuitry to convert the analog input signal intoa DC signal to power the sound processor and light source. The powercircuitry may comprise a storage device such as a battery or capacitorto provide electrical energy to the sound processor and the lightsource. The adapter module of the example of FIG. 3B comprises amagnetic field source instead of a light source. The sound processor maycomprise one or more of many known sound processors, which may beprogrammed to implement various embodiments of the present disclosure.Embodiments of the systems of the present disclosure may be comprised ofvarious modules, for example, sound processing modules. Each of themodules can comprise various sub-routines and may be separately compiledand linked into a single executable program.

Depending on a particular embodiment, the sound processor converts theanalog input signal, for example, into a pulse modulated output signalor a magnetic signal (FIGS. 3A and 3B). The magnetic signal can be usedto drive a magnetic field source or generator, which may comprise, forexample, a magnetic coil. The pulse modulated output signal can be usedto drive a light source. The light source may comprise an LED or laserdiode, for example. The light source can be coupled to the photodetectoras described herein.

The adapter module can be configured in one or more of many ways. Inmany embodiments, the adapter module may comprise a shape profile forplacement in the ear canal of the user. The analog input is directedtoward the ear canal opening and, for example, the output light sourcemay be directed toward the tympanic membrane. Alternatively, the adaptermodule can be configured for placement on the support structure 110 or210, for example along the extension 116 or 216. The elongate element230 may extend from the module to the ear canal opening and into the earcanal, for example.

FIG. 4 shows an output transducer assembly configured for boneconduction, in accordance with some additional embodiments. The contacthearing assembly may comprise a photodetector, a transducer, and astructure to couple the transducer to bone, for example. In manyembodiments, the coupling structure or structure is anchored to thebone, for example. The contact transducer assembly may be implanted andmay be coupled to the external light source through the dermis of theuser, for example.

The bone conduction transducer assembly can be placed at one or more ofmany locations. For example the bone conduction transducer assembly canbe placed adjacent the ear canal and coupled to bone of the ear canal,for example. Alternatively, the bone conduction contact assembly can beplaced on the bone of the user away from the ear canal, such that thebone of the mastoid process.

In the embodiments of the bone conduction assembly, the circuitry may besupported with the extension 230, similar to one shown in reference toFIG. 2B, and the output of the circuitry may extend from an output portof the module to the bone conduction assembly placed on the mastoidprocess, for example. In many embodiments, the support structure may befit to the user and the output light port located along the extension,such that the output energy is coupled to transdermally the implantedtransducer anchored to the mastoid process.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that manymodifications and arrangements can be provided to provide energy (forexample, the light energy, RF, ultrasound or magnetic energy) to thetransducer assembly with substantial coupling of the respective energyin accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein.

In reference to the optical implementation, the light energy maycomprise one or more of infrared light energy, visible light energy, orultraviolet light energy, and combinations thereof, for example. In manyembodiments infrared or red light energy can be used to penetrate skinand other tissue to a substantial depth.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, various embodimentsmay be implemented, at least in part, in software, hardware, firmware,or a combination of hardware and software, and it may be carried out ina computer system or other data processing system. Any descriptionsshould be understood as potentially representing modules, segments, orportions of code which include one or more executable instructions forimplementing specific logical functions or elements. If implemented insoftware, the functions may be transmitted or stored on as one or moreinstructions or code on a computer-readable medium, these instructionsmay be executed by a hardware-based processing unit, such as one or moreprocessors, including general purpose microprocessors, applicationspecific integrated circuits, field programmable logic arrays, or otherlogic circuitry.

While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been shownand described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the artthat such embodiments are provided by way of example only. The variousembodiments, implementations and features described can be combined invarious ways or used separately. Numerous variations, changes, andsubstitutions will be apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. It should beunderstood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure described herein may be employed without departing from thescope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the presentdisclosure shall be defined solely by the scope of the appended claimsand the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wearable communication apparatus, comprising: asupport structure configured to be wearable by a user, wherein thesupport structure comprises a frame to position one or more displays infront of one or both eyes of the user to view one or more images on theone or more displays and wherein the audio signal corresponds to the oneor more images; a contact transducer assembly configured to producevibrations of an eardrum, wherein the contact transducer assembly isconfigured to reside on a lateral surface of the eardrum; and circuitryconfigured to drive the contact transducer assembly with an audio signalfrom an output transducer coupled to the circuitry, wherein the outputtransducer comprises a light source configured for positioning in an earcanal of the user, the light source generating an optical signal whereinthe optical signal comprises a pulse modulated signal, and wherein thecircuitry is adapted to produce a display audio signal corresponding tothe one or more images, wherein the circuitry generates the displayaudio signal and transmits the display audio signal to the contacttransducer assembly by means of the optical signal in order to providethe user with the display audio signal.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the contact transducer is configured to produce wide bandwidthvibrations of the ear in a bandwidth comprising a low frequencies below200 Hz and high frequencies above 6 kHz.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein the bandwidth comprises a low frequencies below 500 Hz and highfrequencies above 5 kHz.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thesupport structure comprises, a nose engaging structure to engage a noseof the user, an ear engaging structure to engage an ear of the user, andan extension extending between the ear engaging structure and the noseengaging structure.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising anelongate element sized to extend from the support structure to an earcanal of the user, the elongate element configured to transmit the audiosignal from the extension to the ear canal of the user, the elongateelement comprising one or more of an electrical conductor to transmitthe audio signal or a waveguide to transmit an optical signal.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry comprises wirelesscommunication circuitry configured to provide power and the audio signalto the contact transducer assembly in order to drive the contacttransducer assembly with the power and signal.
 7. The apparatus of claim1, further comprising: a module to receive the audio signal, the audiosignal comprising an analog audio signal, the module comprising, a firstcircuitry to convert the analog audio signal into an optical signal, alight source to transmit the optical signal to the contact transducerassembly, power circuitry to receive the audio signal and provide powerto the first circuitry and the light source; wherein the module providespower and the audio signal to the contact transducer assembly in orderto drive the contact transducer assembly with the optical signal andpower from the light source.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecircuitry is removably supported with the support structure.